Katie Marsal
EU privacy officials published a nonbinding opinion this week stating that users must be given "clear, comprehensive" information about location data, according to Bloomberg. The opinion comes as data protection officials in Europe continue to investigate the iPhone location services controversy that recently erupted.
The new EU opinion states that information collected through Wi-Fi and location services is considered "personal data." Such a classification would make the data subject to EU privacy rules.
The opinion came from the Article 29 Data Protection Working Party, and though it is nonbinding, experts said it could lead to sanctions on companies like Apple and Google.
When asked for a comment on the opinion, Apple declined to comment. A Google spokesperson said the company is reviewing the paper, but added that the search giant cannot identify anyone using Wi-Fi header information. "Nor would we want to," said spokesman Al Verney.
Privacy concerns related to mobile devices came to light when a pair of security researchers discovered that Apple's iOS 4 mobile operating system recorded location data and saved it in a hidden file unbeknownst to users. That data was never transmitted to anyone, and the issue was quickly addressed with the release of iOS 4.3.3.
Both Apple and Google took part in a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing earlier this month, in which Apple's vice president of software technology, Guy L. "Bud" Tribble, asserted that user privacy is one of his company's highest priorities. He explained that Apple has a crowd-sourced collection of cell phone towers and Wi-Fi hotspots that aid in allowing users' iPhones to assess their location quickly, before a GPS signal can be obtained.
Apple also issued a series of answers about the controversy, and Chief Executive Steve Jobs himself participated in interviews in an attempt to ease concerns. But Apple still faces government investigations on iPhone privacy across the globe, including in France, Germany and Italy.
Malcolm Owen
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
18 Comments
I wish the US government would rescind the regulation that requires cell phone makers to give them the ability to turn on someones phone remotely. The only way to keep your phone off deliberately is to remove the battery. Unfortunately not all phones have removable batteries.
I'm all for total digital privacy. I think that nobody should be allowed to collect any data about me unless I specifically give them permission to do it. As it is many companies just say agree to our policy or you can't use our product. Some things like phones are so ubiquitous that people don't have alternatives and must be forced into such agreements.
Way to go EU!!
I'm all for total digital privacy. I think that nobody should be allowed to collect any data about me unless I specifically give them permission to do it. As it is many companies just say agree to our policy or you can't use our product. Some things like phones are so ubiquitous that people don't have alternatives and must be forced into such agreements.
I think that if you enter the digital world (and very few stateside aren't), you lose some degree of privacy immediately. If you're some suspect I'm looking for, you better believe you have no privacy. I personally don't care for privacy. I want to know exactly what you're doing at all times. But that's just me and a few others.
India and Australia are also toughening their privacy laws.
Offshoring: Preparing for India's Proposed Privacy Rules
http://www.networkworld.com/news/201...source=nww_rss
PSN Attacks Have Aussie Government Changing Laws
http://kotaku.com/5798383/psn-attack...-changing-laws
I think that if you enter the digital world (and very few stateside aren't), you lose some degree of privacy immediately. If you're some suspect I'm looking for, you better believe you have no privacy. I personally don't care for privacy. I want to know exactly what you're doing at all times. But that's just me and a few others.
Then use your real name when you post.